Elastomer-silica pigment masterbatches and production processes relating thereto

ABSTRACT

CURBING OF SILICA PIGMENT LOSSES AND THE PROMOTION OF UNIFORMITY OF PRODUCT IN THE PREPARATION OF AN ELASTOMERSILICA PIGMENT MASTERBATCH IS EFFECTED BY (A) COMBINING (1) AN AQUEOUS WET HYDRATED SILICA PIGMENT PRECIPITATE WHICH HAS A BOUND ALKALI CONTENT, WHICH HAS BEEN PREPARED BY PRECIPITATION FROM AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF ALKALI METAL SILICATE, AND WHICH HAS BEEN CONTINUOSULY MAINTAINED IN AN AQUEOUSLY WET STATE WITHOUT HAVING BEEN DRIED THEREFROM AFTER ITS PRECIPITATION, WITH OR WITHOUT TREATMENT WITH A SELECTED REACTANT AND (2) AN AQUEOUS DISPERSION OF HYDROXY CONTAINING ELASTOMER AND ANIONIC DISPERSING AGENT, WITH OR WITHOUT (3) CARBON BLACK AND/OR PROCESSING OIL, AND (4) SELECTED COAGULANT, AND (B) RECOVERING THE RESULTING COAGULUM AS A MASTERBATCH, THE STEPS PRIOR TO (B) HAVING RENDERED THE SERUM OF THE AQUEOUS MIXTURE ESSENTIALLY FREE OF SILICA PIGMENT. THE PRODUCT PREPARED BY THE PROCESS IS A HYDROXYL GROUP CONTAINING ELASTOMER-SILICA PIGMENT MASTERBATCH.

Oct. 24, 1972 O. W. BURKE. JR

ELASTOMER-SILICA PIGMENT MASTERBATCHES AND PRODUCTION PROCESSES RELATING THERETO Original Filed Jan. 24, 1967 Aqueously wet never dried silica pigment precipitate having residual alkali content (A) w/wo (B) (1) Carbon black and/or Blend (2) Processing oil Reactant from members of (I) water soluble salts of aluminum or zinc,

(II) water soluble salts of alkaline earth metals,

(III) water soluble acids (IV) combinations of 2 or more members selected from groups (I) to (III) Aqueous dispersion of hydroxy containing elastomer prepared with anionic emulsifier and Combine (C) (D) and (B) w/wo (E) having 0.1% to 10% of its weight in the form of substituent hydroxyl groups Mechanical separation masterbatch incorporating essentially all the ailic pigment employed Dry elastomer-eilica pigment (K) of aqueous serum from free Drying of coagulmn coagulum Serum essentially of silica pigment United States Patent Office 3,700,620 Patented Oct. 24, 1972 3,700,620 ELASTOMER-SILICA PIGMENT MASTERBATCHES AND PRODUCTION PROCESSES RELATING THERETO Oliver W. Burke, Jr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (1510 SW. 13th Court, Pompano Beach, Fla. 33061) Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 798,216, Sept.

16, 1968, now abandoned, which is a division of application Ser. No. 611,250, Jan. 24, 1967, now Patent No. 3,523,096, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of applications Ser. No. 458,379 and Ser. No. 458,420, both May 24, 1965, both now abandoned, and Ser. No. 479,806, Aug. 16, 1965, now Patent No. 3,401,017. This application July 16, 1970, Ser. No. 55,487

Int. Cl. C08c 11/12; C08d 9/00 U.S. Cl. 26033.6 AO

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Curbing of silica pigment losses and the promotion of uniformity of product in the preparation of an elastomersilica pigment'masterbatch is efiected by (a) combining (1) an aqueous wet hydrated silica pigment precipitate which has a bound alkali content, which has been prepared by precipitation from an aqueous solution of alkali metal silicate, and which has been continuously maintained in an aqueously wet state without having been dried therefrom after its precipitation, with or without treatment with a selected reactant and (2) an aqueous dispersion of hydroxy containing elastomer and anionic dispersing agent, with or without (3) carbon black and/or processing oil, and -(4) selected coagulant, and (b) recovering the resulting coagulum as a masterbatch, the steps prior to (b) having rendered the serum of the aqueous mixture essentially free of silica pigment. The product prepared by the process is a hydroxyl group containing elastomer-silica pigment masterbatch.

8 Claims CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of copending applications Ser. No. 798,216, filed Sept. 16, 1968, now abandoned as a division of application Ser. No. 611,250, filed Jan. 24, 1967, now US. Pat. 3,523,096, said application Ser. No. 611,250 having been a continuation-in-part of earlier applications Ser. No. 458,420, filed May 24, 1965, now abzandoned; Ser. No. 458,379, filed May 24, 1965, now abandoned; and Ser. No. 479,806, filed Aug. 16, 1965, now US. Pat. 3,401,017, the disclosures all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, this application is directed to a species of invention that was nonelected in applicants copending application Ser. No. 55,384, filed July 16, 1970, and, pursuant to a restriction requirement, was withdrawn from consideration in that case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates to the preparation for the rubber trade of elastomer pigment masterbatches from elastomers and precipitated silica pigments.

(2) Description of the prior art It is well known in the art that attempts to make masterbatches from elastomer latex and aqueously dispersed hydrated silica pigment by latex masterbatching have resulted in loss of large amounts of the hydrated silica pigment in the mother liquor, and in non-uniform masterbatches, and that even the addition of tetraethylenepentamine (Whitby, Synthetic Rubber, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1954, p. 676) or glue, gelatin or casein (US. Pat. No. 2,616,860) has not provided a satisfactory solution to this problem. Also, to applicants knowledge there is not at the present time any elastomersilica masterbatch being oflfered on the commercial market.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single figure of the drawing is block-diagram illustrative of the process aspect of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is known to those skilled in the art to prepare hydrated silica pigment for the reinforcement of rubber by precipitation from aqueous solutions of alkali metal silicates with the aid of carbon dioxide, avoiding formation of gelatinous masses(i.e. the formation of silica gel)-and effecting the precipitation of a silica pigment in finely divided form (i.e. in particles in the reinforcing size range of about 0.015 to about 0.150 micron, preferably 0.02 to 0.06 micron) and to recover the pigment from the resulting wet silica pigment by filtration, washing and drying.

The wet silica pigments formed by precipitation from alkali metal silicate solutions with the aid of carbon dioxide have a bound alkali content in the range of about 0.1 to 10% by weight as Na O, and upon being dried in this state form aggregates, from the pigment particles of reinforcing size, which aggregates are of much greater than reinforcing size and will not adequately disperse (i.e. break down into particles of reinforcing size) when incorporated into rubber either by dry compounding or latex compounding.

When one treats such alkaline wet silica pigments with water soluble salts of alkaline earth metals, e.g. calcium salts, to substantially replace the bound alkali metal of the silica, the resulting pigment, when dried, still evidences the formation of aggregates of greater than reinforcing size, which do not adequately disperse in the rubber.

When one treats the alkaline wet silica pigments with the water soluble salts of aluminum and/or zinc, to substantially replace the alkali metal content thereof, the resulting acidic pigment, when dried, disperses to a greater extent in rubber, evidencing less aggregation than the neutral and alkaline products referred to above.

Finally, when one renders the wet silica pigment strongly acidic, by treatment with sulfuric acid and drying, the resulting strongly acidic product is more readily dispersible in rubber, and exhibits minimum aggregation; however, such highly acidic pigments are not practicable for use in the reinforcement of rubbers, since their acidity adversely effects vulcanization thereof.

Thus the drying of the wet silica pigment in alkaline, neutral, and moderately acidic states, in each instance causes the formation of aggregates of pigment particles to a greater or lesser degree which aggregation prevents adequate dispersion of the dry pigment in the rubber; the formation of these aggregates by the drying of the pigment is irreversible; and they remain mostly as aggregates that do not disperse in the rubber either by dry compounding or latex compounding.

This invention is based on the premise that uniformity of an elastomer-pigment masterbatch depends both on obtaining incorporation of a measured quantity of pigment in the masterbatch (e.g. avoiding loss of pigment in the serum in wet masterbatching) and adequate dispersion of the pigment in the elastomer in particles of reinforcing size (e.g. minimizing the pigment aggregation problem); and the present invention provides a process for accomplishing these ends by forming the masterbatch from aqueously wet hydrated silica pigment precipitates having a bound alkali content of 0.1 to 10% by weight as Na 0;

which has been prepared by precipitation from an aqueous solution of alkali metal silicate with the aid of carbon dioxide; and which has continuously been maintained in an aqueously wet state after its precipitation without having been dried therefrom; and which is combined with an elastomer dispersion in the still aqueously wet state, with special provisions for avoiding loss of pigment in the aqueous serum and promoting uniformity of product in the masterbatch.

Thus the present invention, inter alia, provides a simple and efficient process for the curbing of silica pigment losses, and the promotion of uniformity of product in the preparation of masterbatches of measured silica pigment content. As shown in the drawing, the process consists essentially in (A) providing an aqueously wet never dried silica pigment precipitation having residual or bound alkali content; (B) providing reactant selected from the class consisting of the water soluble salts of aluminum, zinc, the alkaline earth metals, the mineral acids, and combinations of the foregoing, and (C) providing from (A) with or without a predetermined amount of reactant (B) wet silica pigment for use in the process; providing (D) an elastomer latex grafted with hydroxyl groups or containing hydroxyl groups and containing anionic emulsifier material coagulable with reactant from (E); providing (E) an aqueous solution of reactant selected from the water soluble salts of aluminum, zinc, the alkaline earth metals, the mineral acids, and combinations of the foregoing; (F) coagulating the elastomer of (D) in the presence of (C), with or without added carbon black and/ or processing oil, with the coagulant (E), and recovering the coagulum as the masterbatch. Under these conditions the steps prior to the recovery render the serum resulting from the coagulation essentially free of silica pigment, thus assuring a uniform silica pigment content in the masterbatch. The achievement of this desideratum is evidenced by the fact that when the coagulum is mechancially removed from the serum, the serum is found to be essentially free of silica pigment, as indicated at (H) in the drawing. The dry elastomer-silica pigment masterbatch (I) thus incorporates essentially all of the silica pigment employed in (C), and this pigment is adequately and uniformly dispersed in the masterbatch. -In the several categories of the invention tabulated in Table A, the aqueous dispersions (e.g. latices) of hydroxy containing elastomers for masterbatching with the wet silica pigment may have concentrations of from to 75%, preferably to 40% dry solids by weight, with from 0.1 to 10%, preferably 0.5 to 5%, of the weight of the elastomers in the form of substituent hydroxyl groups. The several categories of the invention tabulated in Table A differ in the nature of the hydroxy containing elastomers from which the aqueous dispersions thereof are prepared, and fall into three general categories, i.e. (a) hydroxy containing homoand copolymer elastomers, (b) hydroxy grafted homoand copolymer elastomers and (c) the chemically hydroxylated homoand copolymer unsaturated elastomers. As indicated in Table A: the hydroxy elastomers of category (a) may be prepared by emulsion or by solution polymerization; and the precursor polymers of categories (b) and (0) may be natural rubbers, or elastomers prepared by emulsion polymerization, or those prepared by solution polymerization, and may be grafted with hydroxy containing monomers in latex or solution form, and the unsaturated precursor elastomers may be chemically hydroxylated.

TABLE A Hydroxy containing elastomers which, in aqueous dispersion stabilized with anionic dispersing agent, are masterbatched with wet silica pigment according to particular embodiments of this invention:

(a) Elastomeric polymers (homoor copolymers) of y y monomers with and without n0n-hydroxy QOIIIOHOIIEIS;

'4 (1) prepared by emulsion polymerization (2) prepared by solution polymerization (b) Elastomeric precursor-polymers grafted with hydroxy containing monomers:

(1) natural rubber (a) so grafted in latex (b) so grafted in solution (2) Emulsion polymers (homoand interpolymers) (a) so grafted in latex 3) Solution polymers (homoand interpolymers) (a) so grafted in solution (b) so grafted in aqueous dispersion (c) Elastomeric unsaturated precursor polymers chemically hydroxylated:

(1) natural rubber (2) emulsion polymer (homoand inter-) (3) solution polymer (homoand inter-) In each of categories (a) and (b) of Table A, hydroxy containing monomers provide the hydroxyl groups of the elastomers, these hydroxy containing monomers are the ethylenically unsaturated monomers having not over 20 carbon atoms and containing at least one hydroxyl group, and may be selected from the class of ethylenically unsaturated monoand poly-hydroxylic monomers the members of which fall in the groups set forth in Table B.

TABLE B Unsaturated monoand poly-hydroxylic monomers having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms (1) Alcohol monomers (2) Hydroxylic diene monomers (3) Hydroxylic monoand poly-carboxylic acid ester monomers (4) Hydroxylic monoand poly-carboxylic acid monomers (5) Hydroxylic amido, imido and cyano monomers (6) Hydroxylic vinyl sulfide monomers (7) Hydroxylic vinyl ether monomers.

Examples of the monomers of Table B include: aromatic alcohols such as, e.g., vinyl benzyl alcohol, 2- phenyl allyl alcohol, vinyl betahydroxyethyl toluene, betahydroxyethyl styrene, etc.; aliphatic alcohols such as, e.g., 3-hydroxy butene-l, allyl alcohol, 4-hydroxy pentene-l, methallyl alcohol, Z-hydroxymethyl allyl alcohol, 2-chloromethyl allyl alcohol, etc.; hydroxylic dienes such as, e.g., 2-hyroxymethy butadiene-1,3, 2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)butadiene-1,3, etc. hydroxylic monoand poly-carboxylic acid esters such as e.g.,

di(2-hydroxyethyl) maleate,

di(4-hydroxybutyl)-maleate,

di(6-hydroxyhexyl) maleate,

di(9-hydroxynonyl) maleate,

di(10-hydroxydecyl) maleate,

di(2-hydroxyethyl) fumarate,

di(2-hydroxypropyl) fumarate,

di(4-hydroxybutyl) fumarate,

di(6-hydroxyhexyl) fumarate,

di(10-hydroxydecyl) fumarate, and the like;

butyl-bis-(betahydroxyethyl)-itaconate ethyl betahydroxyethyl maleate,

2,3-dihydroxypropyl acrylate,

3,5-dihydroxyamyl crotonate,

6,10-dihydroxydecyl methacrylate,

di-2,6-dihydroxyhexyl maleate,

di-2-chloro 7-hydroxyheptyl fumarate and the like;

hydroxylated monoand poly-carboxylic acid such as, e.g.,

alphahydroxymethyl crotonic acid,

hydroxymethyl fumaric acid,

hydroxypropyl maleic acid, etc.;

hydroxylic amido monomers such as, e.g.,

alphahydroxymethyl acrylamide, N-methylol acrylamide,

N-ethanol acrylamide,

N-propanol acrylamide,

N-methylol methacrylamide,

N-ethanol methacrylamide,

N-hydroxymethyl maleimide,

N-betahydroxypropyl maleimide;

alphahydroxymethyl acrylonitrile; etc.;

the hydroxylic vinyl sulfide or vinyl ether monomers such as e.g.:

fl-hydroxyethyl vinyl sulfide,

p-hydroxyethyl vinyl ether,

Z-hydroxypropyl vinyl sulfide,

S-hydroxypentyl vinyl ether,

6-hydroxyhexyl vinyl ether,

8-hydroxyoctyl vinyl ether,

10-hydroxydecyl vinyl ether,

thiodiglycol monovinyl ether,

thiodiglycol monovinyl sulfide,

diethyleneglycol monovinyl ether, and the like.

Most of the hydroxy containing elastomers of category (a) of Table A, more particularly those prepared from hydroxy containing monomers which do not homopolymerize to form elastomers, lie in the category of interpolymers. Such interpolymers may be prepared, for example, from ethylenically unsaturated monomers material consisting of from 2 to 98% by weight of non-hydroxy conjugated diene monomer material, 2 to 98% by weight of hydroxyl group containing ethylenically'unsaturated monomer material copolymerizable with said conjugated diene monomer material and to 96% by weight of other ethylenically unsaturated monomer material copolymerizable with said conjugated diene monomer material and said hydroxyl group containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer material; and further the said conjugated diene monomer material is selected from the group consisting of C -C unsubstituted and hydrocarbon substituted, chloro-substituted, fluoro substituted and cyano-substituted butadiene-l,3, e.g., isoprene, piperlene, the hexadienes, 2-chlorobutadiene-1,3, and the like; and the hydroxyl group containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer material copolymerizable with the selected diene is selected from the class set forth in Table B, and the ethylenically unsaturated non-hydroxy containing monomers material copolymerizable with said conjugated diene monomer material and copolymerizable with said hydroxyl group containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer material is selected in various embodiments from the monomers set forth in Table C.

6 TABLE 0 Typical non-hydroxyl containing C -C monomers employable as co-monomers in Table A Olefins such as, e.g., ethylene, propylene, isobutylene, 3-methyl butene-l, butene-l, penetene-I, etc., mono and poly-carboxylic acid esters such as, e.g., methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, diethyl maleate, etc.; monoand poly-carboxylic acids or anhydrides such as, e.g., acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, etc.; the vinylidene halides such as, e.g., vinyl chloride, vinyl bromide, vinylidene chloride, etc.; monovinylidene aromatic compounds such as styrene; aryl substituted alkyl styrenes such as, e.g., ortho-meta and para-methylstyrenes, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, para-ethyl styrene, etc.; aryl substituted halostyrenes such as, e.g., ortho-, meta-, and para-chlorostyrenes or bromostyrenes, 2,4-dichlorostyrene, 2-methyl-4- chlorostyrene, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile and the like.

Precursor polymers The precursor elastomeric polymers employable in categories (b) and (c) of Table A, include: the natural rubbers such as, e.g. Hevea, in latex or solution form; the emulsion polymerized elastomeric homoand interpolymers, such as the diene polymer rubbers, e.g. polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, and the copolymers of conjugated diene monomers and monomers containing and copolymerizable therewith through a single ethylenically unsaturated group, e.g. butadienestyrene, butadiene-acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile, butadiene-acrylates or methacrylates; and rubbery copolymers of conjugated diene monomers with other vinylidene (including vinyl) monomers selected from the group set forth in Table C; and the solution polymerized elastomeric homoand interpolymers from olefins and diene monomers such as, e.g. butyl rubber, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-propylene copolymers, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers, butadiene-styrene copolymers, butadiene-ethylene copolymers, propylene-butene-l copolymers, and other solution polymerized elastomers.

Carbon black By the term carbon black as used herein is meant any carbon blacks suitable for use by the rubber industry and set forth under the title carbon blacks at pages 251 to 264 of the publication entitled Materials and Compounding Ingredients for Rubber, compiled by J. V.

Del Gatto, published by Rubber World, 1968, and herein incorporated by reference, e.g. Philblack 0 (TM), Statex K (TM), Statex (TM), Kosmobile 77 (TM), Thermax (TM), and the like.

Processing oils The term processing oils as used herein is meant rubber processing material of both liquid and solid types (if required the solids types can be converted to the liquid state for use herein with the aid of solvent or plasticizer) and include the processing materials set forth under Plasticers and Softeners at pp. 149 to 214 of the publication entitled Materials and Compounding Ingredients for Rubber, compiled by J. V. Del Gatto, published by Rubber World, 1968, and herein incorporated by reference and among the types of processing materials especially suitable for use in this invention are (a) the coal tar oils and pitches e.g. Bardol (TM), Bardol B (TM); (b) the asphalts, e.g. BRH (TM); (c) the petroleum oils including the paraffinic, naphthenic, aromatic, and highly aromatic categories, which are commercially available under trademark designations, Sunpar (TM), Sundex (TM), Sunthene (TM), Circosol (TM), and Shellfiux (TM) oils, and the like, such as Circosol 2XI-I (TM), Sundex 53 (TM), Shell SPX 97 (TM), Dutrex-20, -419, -726, -757, -787 (TM), and Califiux TI (TM) and other oils suitable for rubber compounding or the oil extension of synthetic rubber; (d) the coumarone-indene oils and resins, e.g. Cumar Resin RH, -P10, -T(TM); (c) the liquid ester type plasticizers, e.g. dibutyl phthalate, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, diglycol laurate, dibenzyl sebacate, tributoxyethyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate and the like; (f) the phenol formaldehyde thermoplastic resins, e.g. Durez 12687, 12707 (TM) and the like; (g) the hydrocarbon resins, e.g. Neville-LX 782, -LX 125, (TM), Para- Flux, Para Resin 2457 (TM); (h) the hydrocarbon resincoumarone indene polymers, e.g. Picco Resins (TM); (i) the pine tars and pine tar oil's, rosin and rosin oils, and tall oil and its derivatives, e.g. PT-lOl, PT-40l, PT-800 (TM); and the like.

The chemical hydroxylation of the precursor unsaturated elastomeric polymers in accordance with category (c) of Table A, may be effected in any known or suitable manner, e.g. by treatment of the unsaturated elastomeric polymer with peracetic acid.

In the following description of preferred embodiments, the examples disclose suitable procedures for preparing the aqueous dispersion or latex of grafted polymers with hydroxyl groups, see Examples 1-4, and interpolymers with hydroxyl groups see Examples 18-23, and the combination of these hydroxyl graft polymers and interpolymers with wet silica pigment to form masterbatches is set forth in Examples 5-17 and in Examples 24-57.

Description of the preferred embodiments Preferred embodiments of the present invention avoid the use of organic additives such as tetraethylene-pentamine, glue, gelatin, casein, etc., which increase the cost and may affect the curing properties of the masterbatch. The invention, inter alia, may be used to improve wet silica masterbatching and masterbatches using any aqueously wet never dried silica pigment containing bound alkali, and is applicable to the formation of masterbatches therewith with grafted and non-grafted elastomer latices prepared with anionic emulsifier coagulable with the coagulant.

EXAMPLES The following examples will serve to illustrate the invention in more detail:

Silica Preparation and Examples 1-57 The aqueous slurry of precipitated silica employed in Examples 5-17 and 24-57 was prepared in a manner similar to Example 9 of US. Pat. No. 3,250,594 except that the ratio of 41 B. commercial sodium silicate (Na O/(SiO to water was approximately 1 to 4.5 by weight. The carbon dioxide was supplied to the sodium silicate with the aid of a single submerged combustion burner up to the appearance of the Tyndall effect and with two such burners thereafter. The use of the submerged combustion burners was according to US. Pat. No. 3,372,046. The silica product was filtered and washed to reduce the soluble salts to the range of l to 2% and the filter cake and a solids of approximately 10% by weight. The resulting aqueous silica slurry was designated wet alkaline silica pigment-I, and had a bound alkali content of about 1.5% by weight as Na O, and a serum pH of about 8.5 (8.5-9.5

The just described filter cakes having a solids content of about 10% by weight are embraced within the term wet silica pigmen (which herein connotes aqueously wet silica pigment) as are wet pigments of more reduced water content which can be prepared by pressing the said filter cakes, or of augmented water content, e.g. slurries having less than 10% solids content, and the terms aqueously wet silica pigment or aqueously wet state, as employed herein are generic to all such conditions. Thus these terms as employed herein embrace aqueously wet silica pigment materials having a solids content in the range of about 1% to about 65% solids, dry basis, by weight; however, for economy in the practice of the invention wet silica pigments of reduced water content (solids content 8 to 36%) are preferred.

To determine pigment quality a portion of wet silica pigment-II was dried at 0., micropulverized and compounded as set forth in Table I hereof.

c 2 Cumar Resin RH, a trademark product of Allied Chemical o p The compound was aged over-night, re-milled and cured for 45 minutes at 287 F.

The physical test data for the vulconizate so prepared with the foregoing silica pigment is set forth in TableII hereof.

TABLE H Silica tested (in vulcanizate) Silica Pigment-II Hardness (Shore A) 72 Tensile (p.s.i.) @3530 Modulus (300%) n 114,0 Elong. (percent) In Table III grafted latex having hydroxyl groups was prepared from butadiene-styrene latex. I

InTable IV the alkaline wet silica pigment was com bined with the hydroxyl group containing latices prepared according to Table III and the solids coagulatedv with water soluble magnesium and zinc salts andthe masterbatch dried. v v, In Table V the alkaline silica and the hydroxyl group containing graft latices were coagulated with an aqueous solution of aluminum sulfate and the masterbatch was dried. I In Table VI the examples were prepared similar to Table V except that the coagulant was sulfuric acid and the masterbatch was dried.

' In Table VII the alkaline silica was blended with car bon black (and processing oil in Example14) and latex and coagulated with aluminum sulfate, sulfuric acid, and calcium chloride. Y In Tables VIH and IX .copolymers .were prepared by copolymerizinghydroxyl group containingmonomers to formalatex. I. In Table D( to XVII the alkaline silica pigments were treated with acid, aluminum sulfate and calcium chloride and combined with latices of copolymers contaifiinghydroxyl groups and coagulated with a further quantity of reactants, then the masterbatch was dried.

In Table XVIII to XX treated silica pigment is' confbined with carbon black with and without processing oil and then combined with a latex of copolymer'containing hydroxyl groups and coagulated with a further quantity of reactant and the masterbatch is dried.

In the examples the elastomer latices exemplified and the slurn'es of said silica pigment-I with or without treatment were blended together, preferably by high speed stirring, before combining them with the coagulant and in some instances creaming occurs prior to combining with the coagulant. In some of the examples, while continuing the stirring, the reactant-aqueous solution was progressively added until coagulation throughout the mixture occurred, and on separation of the coagulum from the aqueous phase the serum was essentially free of silica pigment.

In the case of other examples, the blended hydroxyl group containing copolymer or graft-polymer latex and aqueous silica pigment slurry were run into the coagulating solution while stirring; this procedure also yielded a coagulum comprising essentially all of the elastomer and silica pigment, leaving the serum completely or essentially free of the pigment.

It has also been found that streams of the hydroxy group containing copolymer latex and graft elastomer latex, the, silica pigment slurry, with or without reactant treatment, and the coagulant, according to any of these examples, can be run continuously into the coagulation vessel while stirring, and that this procedure also will yield a coagulum containing essentially all of the silica pigment, leaving essentially no silica pigment in the aqueous phase. Thus the processes of the examples are adaptable for either continuous or batch production of the masterbatch. In those instances in which an oil-rubber-silica pigment masterbatch is desired, up to about 45% of oil based on the elastomer is added during or after formation of the masterbatch according to the following examples, preferably with a small amount of ammonium hydroxide to aid dispersion of the oil into the elastomer, and it will thus be understood that the masterbatch and elastomer dispersion contemplated by the invention may contain a minor proportion of oil. Similarly in the respective examples, any soluble aluminum salt may be substituted for the hydrated aluminum sulfate, e.g. aluminum ammonium sulfate or aluminum sodium sulfate, and the coagulant solution contemplated by the invention may thus comprise minor amounts of ammonium and/or alkali metal salts without detriment to the process. Furthermore the elasto mer latex and/ or the aqueous dispersion of silica pigment and/or the aqueous coagulant solution may contain a small proportion of ammonium hydroxide which appears in certain instances to facilitate practice of the invention. When carbon black is also to be included in the elastomer silica pigment masterbatch, it may be incorporated as an aqueous slurry along with the slurry of the silica pigment.

Polymer-silica masterbatches may also be prepared containing processing oils and/ or carbon black as previously described to obtain oil and/or carbon black containing elastomer-silica pigment masterbatches, without departing from the invention. In such practice, from to 65 parts by weight of carbon black may be employed (with the limitation that .the total quantity of silica pigment and carbon black, dry basis, not exceed 100 parts by weight, per 100 parts of the elastomers) and/or from 0 to 45 parts by weight of processing oil may 'be employed, by combining with the elastomer latex and silica pigment slurry prior to the coagulation thereof by the aqueous coagulant as set forth in the drawing. Such combinations may be effected in any suitable way, e.g. the carbon black may be added as an aqueous slurry and the processing oil as an aqueous dispersion preferably with the anionic emulsifying agent and/or ammonium hydroxide.

In preferred embodiments of this invention, the oleophilic amine treated Wet silica pigment being in a slurry form, the carbon black and/or processing oil may be added directly to the said slurry without any prior aqueous dispersement, and with the aid of a high shear mixer, e.g. a Waring Blender, a uniform dispersion of the combination is readily obtained.

The following Examples 1-57 are illustrative of such modes of practicing the invention.

TABLE III Polymer latex giiaitgdliydroxyl groups er s y Example" 1 2 3 4 (A) Grafted latex-hydroxyl groups: (a) Precursor latex-aqueous:

Butadiene-styrene 1 510 510 610 1520 Dry basis 100 100 100 Water 100 100 100 100 5.6% aqueous ammoni 20 (b) Monomer:

Hydroxyethyl-methacrylate 5 Z-hydroxyethylvinyl sulfide 5 Hydroxylpropyl-methaerylate Benzene 10 10 (0) Catalyst:

Cumene hydroperoxide 1 1 1 1 10% aqueous tetraethylenepen e 4 4 4 2 (d) Polymerization condition emp. C 50 50 50 50 Hours 8 8 8 2. 5 (e) Short step: a

Hydroquinone- 0. 2 0. 2 0. 2 0. 2 Sodium sulfide- 0. 02 0. 02 0. 02 0. 02 Water 4 4 4 4 1 SB R-1502 latex (TS=19.4%).

TABLE IV Silica-polymer masterbatch [Parts by wt.]

Example 5 6 7 (A) Silica pigment slurry:

Alkaline silica pigment I (pH=8.5-9.5) 25 25 Dry solids basis 2. 5 2. 5 2. 5

Water 40 4O 40 (B) Grafted latex:

Example 1 40 Example 2 30 Example 3"; 40 Antioxidant l 0. 1 0. 1 0. 1 (C) coagulant:

2% magnesium sulfate 15 2% zinc sulfate 18 18 (D) Combine (A) and (B) then (C):

Blend, x) X X x erump 8.0 6.4 6.4

Silica in serum None None N one (E) Masterbatch:

Filter and wash (X) X X X Dried C.) (X) X X X l Antioxidant is 2,2-methylene-bis-(4-methyl-6-t.-butylphenol).

TABLE V Silica-polymer masterbatch [Parts by wt.]

Example. 8 9

(A) Silica pigment slurry:

Alkaline silica pigment I (pH=8.5-9.5) 25 25 25 Dry solids basis 2. 5 2. 6 2. 5

Water 40 40 40 (B) Grafted latex:

Example2 40 Example 3. 30

Example 4. 30

Antioxidant l 0. 1 0. 1 0. 1

(C) coagulant: 2% aluminum sulfate 2 30 30 30 (D) Combine (A) and (B) then (C):

Blend, (X) X X X erum pH 5. 5 5. 5 ilica in 5 None None (E) Masterbateh:

Filter and wash (X). X X Dried (105 C.) (X) X X Antioxidant is 2,2'-methylene-bis-(4-methyl-6-t.-butylphenol). 3 Aluminum sulfate A12(SO4)3.14H:O.

sill 'IIABLE' i b t h TABLE IX 233 5 2 i r Preparation polymer latex with hydroxyl groups y [Parts by wt.]

Exam le 11 p 12 5 Example 21 22 23 (A) Silica pigment slurry:

Alkaline silica pigment I H=s.5-o.5)- 25 25 I 25 Polymer te Dry solids basis- 2. 5 v 2. 5 2. 5 3861981 Water 40 40 Tallow soap 5 5 (B) Grafted latex: water 180 180 180 Example 2 y ene 20 15 Example 3 Actylnnih'lln 5 Example 4 30 Hydmxypropylmethacrylate 5 Antioxidant 1 I 0,1 N e hy imetha ylam1de (60% 5 5 (C) coagulant: 27 suli'uric acid... 6 i g g 6 q e us (D) Combine (A) and (B) then 0 p v utad-lelle-L3 so so so m d, (x) x X x Potassium persuliate.- 1 1 1 Serum pH v 3 0 3, o 3 o p an MIM 0.8 0. 8 o. 8 Silica in serum 7 None None None Conditionsg (E) Masterbatch: 15 p- C 50 50 50 3.1% 593 s x X iii stttizsiy 1% 32 e7 x H X X P Lateiry va guum 555555565). .I x X X 1 i 0 ymer e Antioxidant is 2,2 n ethylcne bis (4 methyl-M. butylphenol). Conversion percent n 34 58' 8 62 Total solids, percent l3. 1 22 23. 8

2O A trademark product, 0 2, C 4 and C15 tertiary mercaptan.

1 0.5 pts. dinitrophenol.

TABLE VII TABLE x Silica-polymer mesterbatch including carbon black and processing oil Silica-polymer masterbatch [Parts by wt.]

[Parts by wt.]

Example 14 15 16 17 Example 25 26 (A) Silica pigment slurry:

Alkaline silica pigment I (pH=8.5-9.5) 25 25 25 25 30 m pigment s y:

Dry solids basis 2. 5 2, 5 2, 5 2, 5 Alkali e slh aplgment I (pH =8.69.6) 25 25 25 Water 40 4o 40 4o D l r solids basls 2. g 2. g 2 5 B 0 b0 black and rocessin oil: 7 a or 4 4o Ph i lbli i ck O i H .5 5 5 (B) Reagent-aqueous solution: 2% Alumi- Thermaxl v 5 numsuliate 8.5 8.5 8.5 Statex 160KB. 1 5 (0) Combine (A) and (B): Blend, (X) X X Circosol 2X11 1 l (D) Elastomer latex-Table VI:

(0) Combine (A) and (B); blend, min 0. 5 0. 5 0. 5 0. 5 ample 8 14. 3 14. 3 14. 3

(E) Grafted latex: Dry solids basis 5 5 Example 2 120 ,120 Anti xidant 0. 1 0. 1 0. 1 Example 10 0 ater 40 40 40 Example 4 90 (E) Combine (C) and (D): 13 end, (X) X X X (F) Combine (c) and (E) :lblend, (x) X X X x uta t-aqu lutw (G) coagulant: suliun a ld 4 2% aluminum sulfate I 4 2% magnesium sulfate- 2% sulfuric acid 2% calcium chloride- 2% calcium pH (H) Combine (F) and (G): (G) Combine (E) and (F):

Blend, (X) X X ;Blend, (X) X X Serum pH 4.6 3. 5 8. 0 ,Silica in serum None None None (I) Mastetbatch: f (H) Mastel'batch:

Filter and wash (X) X X X X Filter and wash (X) X X X Dried 105 0.) (X) X X ,X x Dried (105 0.) (X) X x x 1 Carbon black, a trademark product. 1 Aluminum sulfate Alz(S04)s-MH2O. 1 Processing oil, a trademark product. Antioxidant 2,2-methylene-bis(4-methyl-dt-butylphenol). i Waring blender, a trademark product. 4 Aluminum sulfate 21156005441120.

TABLE XI Silica-polymer masterbatch 5 [Parts by wt.] TABLE vm p 27 28 Preparation polymer latex with hydroxyl groups (A) Silica pigment slurry: [Parts by wt 1 glkalirfiadsiltlacaipigment I (pH 22% 25 225 ryso s ass- 2.5 .5 Example 0. 18.. W 1!) 40 40 40 (A) lzgylger latex: s. 5 8. 5 8. 5 Taltlow soap 18g 1,220 X X X gi riffiIIIIIII 20 l 14. a 14.3 14. a Hydroxyethyl Inethacrylate 3 Dry solids basis- 5 5 5 fi tti i tt i a ste l "is 1( a -m 0 me acr a e y y m 5 (E) Combine 0 and (D): Blend, (X) x X x Butadiene-l, 3 80 80 (F) Reaotant-aqueous solution: Potassium persu1fate 1 I 1 2% calcium chloride 10 Mercaptan MTM 0. 8, 0. 8 0. 8 I magnesium su ate- 10 Con tions: i z 2% sulphuric acid--- I e 3.8 Temp.,C 50 5o pH 5.5 6.4 3.5 Hours 6 6 (G) Combine (E) and (F): Short stop 2 x x x Blend, (X) x x Latex vacuum strip X .X Silica in serum None None None Polymer yield: (H) Masterbatch:

Conversion, percent 91" 76 Filter and wash (X) X X X Total solids, percent-- 35 Dried (105 C.) (X). n; X X X 1 A trademark product, 012,014 and C15 tertiary merca ptani f 1 Aluminum sulfate Al (SO4)a'14HzO.

I 0.5 pts. dinitrophenol.

I Antioxidant (2,2-methylene-bis-(4-methyl-6-t.-butylphenol).

TABLE XII TABLE XV Silica-polymer masterbawh Silica-Polymer masterbatch [Parts by wt.] [Parts by wt.]

Example 3O 31 32 5 Example- 39 40 41 (A) Silica pigment slurry: (A) pigglent 5.1m:

Alkaline silica pigment I (pH=8.5-9.5) 25 25 25 g rg i wa pigment-I (pH8.5-9.5) 22g 22g 222 g solids basis 3 3 wa ter 10 40 '40 a er '1'", (B)unBitaag ent-aqueous solution: 2% aluminum 8 5 8 5 8 5 Q gggi 5011mm- 2% 0310mm 5 o 5 0 s a, a

- (C) Comblne (A) and (B): Blend (X) X X X (C) CmbmewMm-319mg) X X X 10 (D) Elastomer latexTable VIII? (D) Elastomerlatex-Table VIII. 3 Example 19 26' 3 l 3 m 3 Example 19 26- 3 2 3 5 Dry Solids basis 5 5 5 Dry basis- 5 5 Antioxidant 1 o 1 0 1 0 1 g Water n :10 10 210 a er v 1; Combine c and (D): Blend, 11 x x x (E) f and f (X) X X X (F) Reactant-aqueous solution: (F) Reagan; ai? 3 10 1o 10 2% calcium chloride 10 15 a S 40 40 40 2% magnesium sulfate. 10

2% sulphuric acid 3- 8 X X x (G) Add (E) to (F): X x X p 5 5 5 Blend (X) 6 4 3 5 (H)S1i}icainbsetn111m None None None glggg ggg g (X) X X X Dn'ed (105 0.) (x) X X X DIM (105 (X) X X X Antioxidant 2,2'-m0thylene-bis(4-methyl-6-t.-butylphenol).

1 A1 ummum Sulfate AMSODTMHZQ Aluminum sulfate AI2(SO4):4'14H2O. Antioxidant 2,2-methylene-bis(-methyl-6-t.-butylphenol).

TABLE XVI TABLE XIII Silica-polymer masterbatch Silica-polymer masterbatch 7 [Parts by wt.]

[Parts by wt.] Example 42 43 44 Example 33 34 35 A) Silica pi ent slurry:

( Alkaline s il ica pigment-I (pH=8.5-9.5)..-.- 25 25 25 E 2 1 u I H 8 H 5) 25 25 25 3 Solids basis g g 3 a ne s1 capgmen p a er gin; solids basis 2: 3 2: 3 8 35 (BEtgagent-aqueous solution: 2% magnesium 5 5 5 5 5 5 a or s a e (Bwegg ent-aqueous solution: 2% aluminum 8 5 8 5 8 5 (gmgnne (Int and Bleirfii, (X) X X X s a as omer a exa e (C) Combine (A) and (B): blend, (X) X X X Exam le 17. 3 17. 3 17. 3

(D) Elastomer Latex-Table VIII: Dry solids basis 5 5 5 ginimpllie1 2% 17.2 -2 -2 vAvntioxidant 0 M]i 0 "(1l 0 1(1) ry so s asisa er Antioxidant 0. 1 0. 1 0. 1 40 (E) Combine (C) and (D): Blend, (X) X X X Water 40 40 40 (F) Reactant-aqueous solution:

(E) Combine (C) and (D Blend, (X). X X x 2% aluminum sulfate 1 10 10 10 (F) Reactant-aqueous solution: Water 40 40 40 2% calcium chloride 10 (G) Add (E) to (F):

38 as 5% :2 5; s p uric 1 (a dd figso (F): X x X agm lllbstrllllm None None None en as or a c Silica in serum None None N n Filter and wash (X) X X X (H)? t b t h 6-4 6- Dried (105 C.) (X) X X X as or a o i r n W h (X)- X X X 1 Antioxidant 2, 2-methylene-bis (4-methy1-6-t.-butylphenol). Dried 105 0.) (X).- X X X 1 Aluminum sulfate musoo mmo.

1 Aluminum sulfate Alz(SO4)a-14.H2O. 2 Antioxidant 2,2-methylene(bis-4-methyl-6-t.-butylphenol).

TABLE XVII Silica-pol er masterbatch TABLE XIV [P r l s by wt.] Silica-polymer masterbatch [Parts by wt.] Example 45 46 47 Example 36 37 38 (A) Silica pigment slurry:

Alkaline silica pigment-I pH=B.5-9.5. 25 2E 25 Silica p g gur y H 8 H 5) 25 25 25 g solids a s 3 3 Alkaline Si ca p gmen p a m- Y Solids basis 5 2: 3 8 (Bhfligaeeut-aqueous solution: 2% aluminum 8 5 8 5 s a e 4. 5 4.5 (0) Combine (A) and (B): Blend, (X) X X X X X X (D) Elastomer latex-Table VI:

Example 21 38 14. g 14. g 14. g gxample g; 23 21 xamp e 0. 1 0. 1 0. 1 5 Dry solids basis 5 5 5 40 40 40 Water 50 50 50 (E) Combine (C) and (D): Blend, (X) X X X Antioxidant 1 0. 1 0. 1 0. 1

(F) Reactantraqueous solution: (E) Combine (C) and (D): Blend, (X)- X X a ;1minum sulfate 1 1g 13 g g a u l z i ltag u g ug olut onr 10 6 (G) Add (E) to (F): 2% zinc sulfate 6 nd, (X) 2 3% 7o 0n i21 (E) and (F): X x

- 8n Silica in serum None None None Silica in serum None None None (H) Masterbatch: (H) Masterbatch:

Filter and wash (X) X X X ilter and wash (X) X X X Dried (105 C.) (X) X X x Dried (105 C.) (X) X X X 1 Antioxidant 2,2'-methylene-bis( i methyl-fi-t.-butylphenol). 1 Aluminum sulfate Alz(S04)a-14Hz0.

1 Aluminum sulfate A12(S04)3'14H2O i Antioxidant 2,2-methylene-bis-(4-methy1-6-t.-butylphenol).

TABLE XVIII Silica-polymer masterbatch with carbon black and processing oil [Parts by wt.]' 7 a Example a 48 49 e 50 (A) Silica pigment slurry:

Alkaline silica pigment I (pH=8.5-9.5) 25 25 25 Dry solids basis 2. 2. 5 2. 5 40 40 40 Water (B) Reagent-aqueous solu 2% aluminum sulfate 1 2% zinc sulfate 2% sulfuric acid 5 (C) Combine (A) and (B): Blend, (X) X X X (D) Carbon black and processing oil:

hermax 1 5 Statex 160KB 2 5 Philblack O B i 5 Circosol 2XH 3 1 15 (E) Combine (C) and (D): Blend 4 min 0. 5 0. 6 0. 5 (F) Elastomer latex-Ex. IX:

Example 19, table VIII 79 Example 22, Table IX 68 Example 21, Table IX 115 Dry solids basis 15 15 15 Water 100 100 100 Antioxidant 5 0. 3 0. 3 0. 3 (G) Combine (E) and (F): Blend, (X) X X X (H) Reactant-aqueous solution:

2% aluminum sulfate 1 25 2% ing sulfate 37 2% calcium chloride 12 Water 5Q 50 (I) Combine (G) and (H):

Blend, :0 x x X p 4. 5 6. 4 3. 5 Silica and/or carbon black in serum None None None (I) Masterbatch:

Filter and wash (X) X X Dried (105 C.) (X) X X X 1 Aluminum sulfate A12 (804) -14H2O 1 Carbon black, a trademark product. Processing oil, a trademark product. 4 Waring blender, a trademark product. 6 Antioxidant 2, 2-methylene-bis-(4-methyl6-t.-butylphenol).

TAB LE XIX Silica-polymer masterbatch [Parts y wt.]

Example 51 52 53 (A) Silica pigment slurry:

Alkaline silica pigment-I (pH=8.5-9.5) 25 25 25 Dry solids basis 2. 5 2. 5 2. 5 Water 40 40 40 (B) Reagent-aqueous solution: 2% aluminum v V V s a 1 8.5 8.5 8.5 (C) Combine (A) and (B): Blend and filter (X). X X X (D) Processing oil: Circosol 2XH 0. 6 0. 6 0. 6 (E) Carbon black: Thermax 3 5 5 5 (D) Blend (C), (D) and (E): Blender min.-- 0. 5 0. 5 0. 5 (E) Elastomer latex table:

Example 18 43 43 43 Dry solids basis. 15 15 15 Water 50 ,50 I 50 Antioxidant 5 0. 3 V 0. 3 D. 3 (F) Combine (D) and (E). end, X X X (G) Reactant-aqueous solution:

2% aluminum sulfate 1 28 2% magnesium sulfate 30 0 2% sulfuric acid I I 11. a 100, 100 100 (H) Combine (F) and nd, X X X g 4.5 6.4 3.5 ilica and/or carbon black in serum None None None (I) Masterbatch:

Filter and wash (X) X X X Dried (105 C.) (X) X r X X Antioxidant 2,2-methylene-bis-(4-methyl-6-t.-buty1phenol) TABLE XX Silica-polymer mesterbatch [Parts by wt.]

Example 54 55 56- 57 (A) Silica pigment slurry:

Alkaline silica pigment-I (pH=8.5

9.5) 25 Dry solids basi 2. 5 We 40 (B) Reagent cium chloride. 8 (C) Combine (A) and (B): Blend, X (D) Processing oil: Circosol 2XH 0. 6 (E) Carbon black:

Statex 160KB 1 5 5 Philblack O 3 5 5 (D) Blend (C), (D) and (E): Blender,

nun 0.5 0.5 0 5 0.5 (E) Elastomer latex table VIII Example 20 52 52 Example 1 7 79 79 Dry solids basis- '15 15 15 15 Water 60 80 80 Antioxidant 4 0.3 0. 3 0. 3 0. 3 (F) Combine (D) and (E): Blend, (X) X X X X (G) Reactant-aqueous solution:

2% aluminum sulfate 31 40 2% Zinc sulfate 20 30 120 120 120 120 Blen X X X X pII 4. 0 6. 0 4. O 5. 5 Silica and/or carbon black in serum. None None None None (I) Masterbatch:

Filter and wash (X) X X X X Dried (105 C.) (X) X X X X 1 Processing oil, a trade markproduct. 2 Carbon black, a trademark product. K3525iiiii ii fiigiififiifi iifith Hi-t-but 1 1. 1

The masterbatches prepared in accordance with the present invention may be compounded with vulcanizing ingredients and vulcanized by any suitable recipe (e.g. the recipe set forth in Table I, above) to form useful vulcanizates.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be appreciated, inter alia, that the present invention improves elastomersilica pigment masterbatches by forming the same with elastomers provided with certain substituent groups improving the compatability of the elastomer with the aqueously wet silica pigment.

In certain co-pending applications filed concurrently herewith, difier ent modes of improving elastomer-silica pigment masterbatches are provided by employing wet silica pigment rendered more compatable with elastomers by combining with the wet silica pigment certain conditioning materials. To maintain clear lines of division between the copending applications the claims of this application recite, and rely for patentability on, only its own improvements, without prejudice to their applicability to processes or products employing such improvements along with a different improvement disclosed in one of said co-pending applications.

Also, while there have been described herein what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilledinftheart that modifications and changes'may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is therefore understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims are intended to be includedtherein.

I claim: l

1. A process for the curbingof silica pigment losses and the promotion of uniformity of product in'the preparation of a silica pigment-elastomer masterbatch from:

(a) aqueously wet silica pigment and (b) an aqueous dispersion of elastomer, which process comprises the steps of: s s

(c) providing 5 to parts by weight, dry basis, of

aqueously wet hydrated silica pigment precipitate which has a bound alkali content in the range of 0.1

17 to 10% by weight as Na O; which has been prepared by precipitation from an aqueous solution of alkalimetal silicate with the aid of carbon dioxide and filtered and washed; and which has continuously been maintained in an aqueously wet state without subjection to drying after its precipitation;

(d) providing an aqueous dispersion of elastomer containing (1) 100 parts of the elastomer by weight and (2) from 0.5 to 15 parts by weight of anionic dispersing agent, (3) the elastomer of said dispersion consisting essentially of hydroxy containing elastomer having from 0.1 to 10% of its Weight consisting of its substituent hydroxyl groups;

(e) providing reactant selected from the class consisting of the members of the following groups: Group (I), the water soluble salts of aluminum or zinc; Group (II), the water soluble salts of the alkaline earth metals; Group (III), the water soluble acids; and Group (IV), combinations of any two or more members of the foregoing groups;

(if) combining the wet silica pigment provided by step (c) with from to at least a stoichiometric equivalent, based on the alkalinity of the silica pigment, of reactant provided by step (e); thereby to provide a wet silica pigment for use in step (g);

(g) combining the aqueous elastomer dispersion provided by step ((1), together with (1) the aqueously wet silica pigment precipitate provided by step (f), (2) from 0 to 75 parts by weight of carbon black with the limitation that the total of silica pigment and carbon black, dry basis, not exceed 80 parts by weight and (3) from 0 to 45 parts by weight of processing oil, with a sufficient quantity of the reactant provided in step (e) to cause coagulation of the solids of the combination, whereby there is formed a coagulum of such solids rendering the aqueous serum of the combination essentially free of silica pigment; and

(h) recovering the coagulum as a masterbatch.

2. A process for preparing a masterbatch from wet silica pigment and an aqueous dispersion of elastomer as claimed in claim 1, in which the elastomer of the aqueous dispersion provided in step (d) is a hydrox containing polymer prepared by aqueous dispersion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomer material consisting at least in part of a quantity of hydroxy containing monomer material having suflicient hydroxyl groups therein to form the hydroxy containing elastomer.

3. A process for preparing a masterbatch from wet silica pigment and an aqueous dispersion of elastomer as claimed in claim 1, in which the elastomer of the aqueous dispersion provided in step (d) is a hydroxy containing graft polymer prepared by (1) forming a precursor polymer by aqueous dispersion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomer material, and (2) thereafter grafting hydroxy containing monomer material thereto by aqueous graft polymerization.

4. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein in step (f) the aqueously wet silica pigment precipitate provided by step (c) is combined with at least a sufiicient quantity to substantially neutralize the alkalinity of the wet silica pigment of the reactant provided in step (e).

5. A process as defined in claim 1, in which the aqueous hydroxy containing elastomer dispersion and the aqueously wet silica pigment precipitate being subjected to step (g) are pre-mixed before being combined with the reactant referred to in step (g).

6. A process as claimed in claim 3, in which the combining of the mixture of aqueous elastomer dispersion and silica pigment with the reactant as referred to in step (g) is effected by adding said mixture to an aqueous solution of the reactant.

7. A process as claimed in claim 1, in which at least 5 parts by weight of carbon black are employed in step (g).

8. A process as claimed in claim 1, in which at least 5 parts by weight of processing oil are employed in step (g).

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,821,232 l/l958 Wolf 152-330 3,042,661 7/ 1962 Kirshenboum et al. 26083.3 3,061,577 10/1962 Pruett 26041 3,172,726 3/1965 Burke et al. 23-182 3,250,594 5/1966 Burke et a1. 23182 3,314,911 4/ 1967 Cull 26029.7 3,392,140 7/1968 Maahs et al 260--41.5 3,401,213 9/ 1968 Trementozzi 260-880 OTHER REFERENCES Whitby, G. 8., Synthetic Rubber, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1954, pages 670 and 677.

Morton, Maurice, Introduction to Rubber Technology, Reinhold Pub. Corp., New York, 1959, pages 169-171.

ALLAN LIEBERMAN, Primary Examiner J. H. DERRINGTON, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

260-342, 41 R, 41 A, 41.5 R, 41.5 A, 41.5 MP, 746 

